Best Samsung Phones to Buy: A Pick for Every Budget (2026)
Samsung's range runs from the Galaxy A07 to the $2,099.99 Z Fold8 Ultra. Its own specs and prices for all twelve phones, and the ones worth the money.
For most people the Samsung phone to buy is the Galaxy A37 5G. It is $489.99 on Samsung’s US store, ₹46,999 on Samsung India’s and from about ₦410,000 in Nigeria. On a tighter budget, buy the Galaxy A17 5G: $269.99, ₹27,499 or about ₦250,000.
Those two picks are first-hand. Oscar Frank, who runs this site, bought the Galaxy A07, A17, A27, A37 and A57 out of pocket and used all five. The comparison of this year’s Galaxy A phones has the detail and the photos.
For the Galaxy S, FE and Z phones, everything below is what Samsung states on its own pages. On those figures the Galaxy S26 FE, at $699.99, is the cheapest of this year’s phones with a telephoto camera and seven years of updates, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra, at $1,399.99, is the one that leaves nothing out.
Some links on this page go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The range at a glance
Samsung’s current phones come in four lines: Galaxy A (cheap to mid-priced), Galaxy S (flagships), FE (a cut-price S) and Galaxy Z (foldables). Every display here is 6.3 inches or larger, and every one from the A17 up is an AMOLED panel.
| Phone | Display | Chip | Rear cameras | Battery and charging | Updates promised |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy A07 | 6.7-inch LCD, 90Hz (4G) or 120Hz (5G) | Helio G99 (4G) or Dimensity 6300 (5G) | 50MP main, 2MP depth | 5,000mAh (4G) or 6,000mAh (5G) | 6 OS upgrades, 6 years of security |
| Galaxy A17 5G | 6.7-inch Super AMOLED, 90Hz | Exynos 1330 | 50MP main with OIS, 5MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro | 5,000mAh, 25W | 6 OS upgrades, 6 years of security |
| Galaxy A27 5G | 6.7-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 | 50MP main with OIS, 5MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro | 5,000mAh, 25W | 6 OS upgrades, 6 years of security |
| Galaxy A37 5G | 6.7-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz | Exynos 1480 | 50MP main with OIS, 8MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro | 5,000mAh, 45W | Up to 6 OS upgrades, 6 years of security |
| Galaxy A57 5G | 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus, 120Hz | Exynos 1680 | 50MP main with OIS, 12MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro | 5,000mAh, 45W | Up to 6 OS upgrades, 6 years of security |
| Galaxy S26 FE | 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz | Exynos 2500 | 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP 3x telephoto | 4,900mAh, 45W wired, 15W wireless | 7 OS upgrades, 7 years of security |
| Galaxy S26 | 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (US) or Exynos 2600 | 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto | 4,300mAh, 25W wired, 15W wireless | 7 OS upgrades, 7 years of security |
| Galaxy S26+ | 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (US) or Exynos 2600 | 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto | 4,900mAh, 45W wired, 20W wireless | 7 OS upgrades, 7 years of security |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | 200MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x and 50MP 5x telephoto | 5,000mAh, 60W wired, 25W wireless | 7 OS upgrades, 7 years of security |
| Galaxy Z Flip8 | 6.9-inch folding screen, 4.1-inch cover screen | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (US) or Exynos 2600 | 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide | 4,300mAh, 25W wired, 15W wireless | Up to 7 OS upgrades and security updates |
| Galaxy Z Fold8 | 7.6-inch folding screen, 5.5-inch cover screen | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | 50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide | 4,800mAh, 45W wired, 20W wireless | Up to 7 OS upgrades and security updates |
| Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra | 8-inch folding screen, 6.5-inch cover screen | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | 200MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto | 5,000mAh, 45W wired, 20W wireless | Up to 7 OS upgrades and security updates |
The chip depends on where you buy. Samsung’s US pages give the S26, S26+ and Z Flip8 the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. Its pages for India, Africa and the UK give the same three phones Samsung’s own Exynos 2600. The S26 Ultra and both Fold8 phones are Snapdragon on every Samsung page we opened. Samsung does not name the chip in the A07 5G, so that one comes from GSMArena’s listing.
What each one costs
The dollar figures are list prices on Samsung’s US store for the smallest storage size. They have gone up. Samsung has raised its Galaxy A prices since those phones launched, and each S26 phone now lists at $100 more than the launch price in Samsung’s own announcement. The rupee figures are what Samsung India’s store charges. Samsung’s Africa site shows the phones with no prices, so the naira column covers only the five Galaxy A phones Oscar bought, at the prices paid or seen in Nigerian shops.
| Phone | Samsung US | Samsung India | Nigeria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy A07 | Not sold | ₹13,499 (4G) | About ₦170,000 (5G) |
| Galaxy A17 5G | $269.99 | ₹27,499 | About ₦250,000 |
| Galaxy A27 5G | $379.99 | ₹33,999 | ₦400,000 to ₦520,000 |
| Galaxy A37 5G | $489.99 | ₹46,999 | From ₦410,000 |
| Galaxy A57 5G | $599.99 | ₹62,999 (256GB) | From ₦623,000 |
| Galaxy S26 FE | $699.99 | ₹72,999 (256GB) | No Samsung price |
| Galaxy S26 | $999.99 | ₹102,999 | No Samsung price |
| Galaxy S26+ | $1,199.99 | ₹134,999 | No Samsung price |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | $1,399.99 | ₹154,999 | No Samsung price |
| Galaxy Z Flip8 | $1,199.99 | ₹114,999 | No Samsung price |
| Galaxy Z Fold8 | $1,899.99 | ₹174,999 | No Samsung price |
| Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra | $2,099.99 | ₹194,999 | No Samsung price |
Samsung’s US buy pages were also taking $100 to $300 off most S26 and Z8 models with no trade-in. Those offers change often, so open the buy page on Samsung’s store before you decide.
Galaxy A: where the value is
These are Oscar’s verdicts on the five, taken from that comparison.
- Galaxy A07: fine as a first phone or a spare, and nothing more. The screen is an LCD. The 5G version has a 6,000mAh battery, and even this phone gets six years of updates. Samsung Galaxy A07 on Amazon
- Galaxy A17 5G: the budget pick. A Super AMOLED screen and a stabilised main camera at this price are the reasons. Samsung Galaxy A17 5G on Amazon
- Galaxy A27 5G: skip it at today’s price. It costs close to what the A37 does, with a weaker water rating (IP64) and a 5MP ultra-wide camera.
- Galaxy A37 5G: the one to buy. It has a 120Hz Super AMOLED screen, IP68 water resistance and 45W charging, and Oscar puts it at about 90% of the A57 for clearly less money. Samsung Galaxy A37 5G on Amazon
- Galaxy A57 5G: the best A phone Samsung has made, and poor value. It shares the A37’s battery size, charging speed, water rating and update promise.
Samsung has since added the Galaxy A08, A18 and A07s. They arrived after the comparison was done, so they are not ranked here.
Galaxy S26 FE
The FE is Samsung’s cut-price S phone. Samsung gives the S26 FE a 6.7-inch 120Hz screen that reaches 1,900 nits, a 4,900mAh battery, IP68 water resistance and the same seven-year update promise as the dearer S26 phones.
It is $100 more than the Galaxy A57. That $100 buys a 3x telephoto camera, wireless charging and a seventh year of updates, none of which Samsung lists for the A57. Storage is the catch: $699.99 gets 128GB, and the 256GB version is $799.99. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE on Amazon
Last year’s Galaxy S25 FE is still listed at $649.99 with the older Exynos 2400 and the same battery size, but only a Verizon version was in stock on Samsung’s US store. Samsung India sells it from ₹59,999.
Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra
All three have a screen that peaks at 2,600 nits, IP68 water resistance and seven years of updates. Samsung has begun moving them from One UI 8.5 to One UI 9.
- Galaxy S26, $999.99: the small one, at 6.3 inches and 167g. Its 4,300mAh battery and 25W charging are the lowest figures of any S phone here. Samsung Galaxy S26 on Amazon
- Galaxy S26+, $1,199.99: the same cameras behind a bigger, sharper 6.7-inch screen, with a 4,900mAh battery and 45W charging.
- Galaxy S26 Ultra, $1,399.99: a 200MP main camera, two telephoto cameras, a built-in S Pen, 60W charging and a Privacy Display that Samsung says is the first built into a phone. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra on Amazon
The S26+ is the one we would skip. It sits $200 above the S26 and $200 below the Ultra, and the second $200 buys far more than the first.
The S26 has competition from below as well. The 256GB S26 FE is $200 cheaper than the 256GB S26 and has the bigger battery and faster charging. The S26 answers with a newer chip, a brighter screen and a smaller body.
Galaxy Z Flip8, Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra
- Galaxy Z Flip8, $1,199.99: the one that folds in half to pocket size, with a 4.1-inch screen on the outside. It weighs 180g. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 on Amazon
- Galaxy Z Fold8, $1,899.99: a new, wider shape that opens to a 7.6-inch screen in a 4:3 ratio. At 201g Samsung calls it its lightest Fold. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 on Amazon
- Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, $2,099.99: the larger Fold, with an 8-inch screen inside, the 200MP camera, a 3x telephoto and a 5,000mAh battery. It weighs 215g.
Read the figures before paying for the fold. The Flip8 costs the same as the S26+ and has a smaller battery, slower charging and no telephoto camera. All three foldables are rated IP48, a lower dust rating than the IP68 on the S phones. Samsung’s own pages say neither Fold8 supports the S Pen.
Samsung’s US store also lists last year’s Z Fold7, Z Flip7 and Z Flip7 FE, and the 10-inch Z TriFold at $2,899. Almost all of that stock was marked out of stock.
Which Samsung phone to buy
By budget, at Samsung’s US prices:
- Under $300: the Galaxy A17 5G.
- About $500: the Galaxy A37 5G. This is where most people should stop.
- About $700: the Galaxy S26 FE, for the zoom camera and the extra year of updates.
- About $1,000: the Galaxy S26 if you want a small phone. If size does not matter, the 256GB FE leaves $200 in your pocket.
- $1,400: the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
By kind of buyer:
- A first phone, or one for a child or an older parent: the Galaxy A07.
- Photos and video: the Galaxy S26 Ultra. No other Samsung has both a 200MP main camera and a 5x telephoto.
- Games: the S26 Ultra again. Samsung gives it the Snapdragon chip in every region we looked at, a 5,000mAh battery and a redesigned vapour chamber for cooling. Our guide to Samsung’s Gaming Hub and Game Booster covers the game settings.
- A stylus: the S26 Ultra is the only choice.
- A foldable: the Z Flip8 for the pocket, the Z Fold8 for the big screen. The Fold8 Ultra is for people who want the 200MP camera on a foldable and will pay $200 more for it.
- Keeping it longest: any S26 or the S26 FE, which are promised seven years of security updates against six on the Galaxy A phones.
If none of these fits, our list of phones under $500 from other makers shows what the same money buys elsewhere.
Quick answers
Which Samsung phone is the best value for money?
The Galaxy A37 5G. It has the same battery size, 45W charging, IP68 rating and update promise as the A57 for $110 less on Samsung’s US store.
What is the best Samsung phone under ₦200,000?
Of the phones Oscar bought, only the Galaxy A07 5G is under ₦200,000, at about ₦170,000. The A17, the better phone, is about ₦250,000.
Which Samsung phone is best under ₹30,000?
The Galaxy A17 5G, which Samsung India sells from ₹27,499. Under ₹20,000, Samsung India lists the Galaxy A07 at ₹13,499 and the newer A08 at ₹18,499.
Which Samsung phone has the best camera?
On Samsung’s figures, the Galaxy S26 Ultra: a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide and two telephoto cameras at 3x and 5x.
How long does Samsung update its phones?
Samsung promises seven Android upgrades and seven years of security updates for the S26 phones and the S26 FE, and six of each for this year’s Galaxy A phones.
Prices move, so confirm on Samsung’s store before you pay.
